Emerging Adults' Relationships with Their Parents

Jacob Goldsmith, Ph.D.

In this issue of Clinical Science Insights, Jacob Goldsmith, Ph.D., explores Jeffrey Arnett’s theory of emerging adulthood, highlights potential problems that emerging adults and their families may encounter, and suggests some general guidelines for what parents can do to help and lay the foundation for a healthy parent-adult-child relationship.

Emerging Adults' Relationships with Their Parents

Jacob Goldsmith, Ph.D.

Clinical Director, Psychotherapy Change Project

Coordinator of Clinical-Research Integration

Clinical Lecturer

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

As the clinical director of the Psychotherapy Change Project, Dr. Goldsmith leads a team that creates and studies tools for integrating empirical information into therapy practice.

References & Citations

Arnett, J. J. (2000). Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties.American psychologist, 55(5), 469.

Arnett, J. J. (2004). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the early twenties. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Wang, W., & Parker, K. (2014). Record Share of Americans Have Never Married: As Values, Economics and Gender Patterns Change. Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project Washington, D.C.

Wightman, P. D., Patrick, M., Schoeni, R. F., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2013). Historical trends in parental financial support of young adults. Population Studies Center Research Report, (13-801).